Providing an interactive electronic programmimg guide with a layout that is defined based on objects

ABSTRACT

An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional applicationSer. No. 09/854,334, filed on May 11, 2001, entitled “UniversalProgramming System and Method for EPG with Localized InteractiveContent” and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No.60/203,508, filed on May 11, 2000, entitled, “Universal ProgrammingSystem for EPG”, which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electronic programming guidesand, more particularly, to a programming system for an electronicprogramming guide with localized interactive content.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic programming guides (EPGs) are often programmed for set-topboxes (STBs), which typically have a low-speed CPU and extremely limitedmemory. Such EPGs are simple and limited in functionality. For example,most of these EPGs operate in the same basic fashion: scheduled programinformation is transmitted to a STB on a viewer's premises by anappropriate form of transmission (e.g., broadcast, direct satellite,cable, etc.). The set-top box CPU retains the transmission in memory sothat the scheduled programming information may be subsequently viewed ona viewer's television set in response to user-generated signals. Theinformation generally appears in a grid structure on the televisionscreen with multiple columns corresponding to a designated time slot(e.g., 30 minutes) and multiple rows corresponding to a differenttelevision channel.

Any minimal design upgrade of the user interface or other EPG functionsrequires significant redesign of the EPG and reprogramming of the STB.As a result, broadcasters and content developers cannot easily upgradethe software in existing EPGs, and are often even required to replacethe hardware, or at least upgrade the memory, CPU, etc. Moreover,because of the limited resolution quality of conventional televisionscreens, the viewer can only see about 1.5 hours of programming at atime for only a few channels. In addition, current EPGs allow for onlyone font size. Unfortunately, viewers do not all have the same depth ofvision. Therefore, some viewers may be unable to read the programminginformation on the television screen. Confounding this problem is thefact that existing EPGs do not have very advanced lighting capabilities,which detracts from the functionality of the EPG.

Furthermore, it is desirable for EPG updates, in some instances, to belocalized and to thus not be broadcast in all locations over thebroadcast stream, as is usual for scheduled objects. At the same timetremendous growth in CPU performance and significant CPU and memoryprice decline have created opportunities to design more complex andintelligent EPGs to satisfy this need. Yet prior art EPGs have beenunable to bring objects with intelligent behavior into a local EPGsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved EPG that can displayprogramming information in a variety of ways (e.g., 3-D images,alphanumeric text, and video data) and that also allows viewers and/ortelevision programmers to select between varying programming worldsaccording to viewer and/or programmer preferences.

An EPG in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventionprovides for a memory or database which contains objects a through n.One class of objects is a pseudo-descriptive language that describes,for example, program events or schedule times. Such an object has atitle and/or a channel ID that can be converted into the actual channelnumber or program association (e.g., Channel 7 equals ABC, etc.).

In a further aspect of the present invention, an additional class ofobjects contains a variety of world descriptions. This class of objectsprovides a 3-D enabled EPG, including a 3-D virtual world whose endresult is the view that the user gets.

Such multiple user interfaces, environments, and even logics may beloaded into the same device at the same time, and by choosing aparticular EPG world, various layouts may be achieved. One layout maymimic the look of a classic 2-D EPG approach. Another layout may mimic,for example, a futuristic science fiction type of environment in space,with rotating carousels showing movie previews, etc. A third layout mayoffer, for example, an environment mimicking video games such as DOOM™,etc. In addition, there may be a dynamic relationship between theselection of content by a user and the selection of a specific world(e.g., the selection of the sports channel by the user changes the worldto a ballpark, the selection of the Disney channel changes the world toa Disney world, etc.).

In these various environments, channels may be organized by differentclasses so that the EPG world may contain, in addition to its layout anddescriptions, one through n elements with objects. In turn, each ofthese objects may be linked or assigned to one of the items to display,such as schedule items, etc. In addition, there may be non-EPG objects,such as interaction objects. These may be used for e-commerceactivities, etc., and may be conflated with the presentation of theworld along with the programming schedule items.

In yet a further aspect of the present invention objects withintelligent behavior may be brought into a local EPG system. Aninteractive network link uploads in real time new objects with localizedcontent and transmits those new objects via a software driver acting asa connector into the memory or database.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and notlimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereference numerals refer to similar elements and which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional EPG system according tothe prior art.

FIG. 2 a shows an overview of the software architecture of a programmingsystem for an EPG according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 b shows the overview of the software architecture of theprogramming system for the EPG of FIG. 2 a including an interactivenetwork communication block.

FIG. 3 a shows a pseudo-descriptive language containing one class ofobjects for an EPG according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b shows a description of a 3-D world in another class of objectsfor an EPG according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 c shows a description of a non-EPG object according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is one example of a computer system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a universal programming system and method for an EPGwith localized interactive content. Throughout the following descriptionspecific details are set forth in order to provide a more thoroughunderstanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practicedwithout these particulars. In other instances, well known elements havenot been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuringthe present invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings areto be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

One limitation of prior art EPGs is that they are unsophisticated. Thatis, programming information is typically displayed in a grid structureon a television screen. This information is often not very detailed andmay be difficult for some viewers to read. Moreover, prior art EPGs aredifficult to upgrade. Another limitation of prior art EPGs is thatobjects with intelligent behavior have been unable to be brought into alocal EPG system.

It would be helpful if an improved EPG system existed to allow users todisplay programming information in a variety of ways (e.g., including3-D images) and to allow users to vary programming worlds according tocertain preferences. Moreover, it would also be helpful if objects withlocalized interactive content could be brought into the EPG system.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a block diagram of a conventionalEPG system 100 according to the prior art. A service provider 110 suchas a broadcaster or a cable television provider, broadcasts atransmission 115 to a plurality of subscribers, each having a set-topbox 120 and 122, etc. Signal may be distributed and received through avariety of means, including optical, microwave, electrical or otherforms of transmission. Signal includes EPG data 130 and 132, etc., whichis displayed on television screens 134 and 136, etc., as part oftelevision systems 140 and 142, etc. EPG data 130 and 132, etc., isdisplayed in a matrix of rectangular boxes containing text (not shown inthis view) in a manner well known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2 a there is shown an overview of the softwarearchitecture of a programming system for an EPG 200 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The present invention may beimplemented in any television system (not shown in this view) includinganalog (e.g., using CRTs technology) as well as digital technologies(e.g., HDTV supporting interlaced format). A user interface 201 such asa wireless remote control device (using a signal transmission methodsuch as infrared, RF, inductive, or any other available method) maycommunicate with the television system. In the present embodiment, theremote control device contains a mechanism (e.g., a joystick, trackball, touch pad, mouse, lever, etc.) by which the user can manipulate acursor on a television screen. Of course, remote control device couldalso be any one of numerous control devices known in the art, includinga wireless keyboard, a wireless pointer device, etc. It is also possiblenot to use a remote control device at all, and to just use a key pad,cursor, etc., attached directly to the television system.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 2 a, the software architecture ofthe programming system 200 resides in a set-top box 210. The set-top box210 typically includes a CPU coupled to a read-only memory (ROM) and arandom-access memory (RAM) (not show in this view). The ROM includesinstructions and data for executing on the CPU. The RAM is used forstoring program variables for the program instructions contained in theROM. In another embodiment, the software architecture of the system mayreside in the television system or may be built into a VCR.

A presentation engine 202 has drivers or connectors 205 a through n. Onesuch driver is driver 203 which connects to the operating system withinthe set-top box 210 and allows the presentation engine 202 tocommunicate with such things as a television tuner, data forreplenishing programming information, and the like. In addition, thereis a memory or database 220 in the system, which contains objects 215 athrough n. In the present embodiment, the database 220 resides in thememory. However, since the architecture of the here-referenced systemalso has hard disks, the database may also be in the hard disk, or inboth the memory and the hard disk. An interface 204 provides for a 3-Denabled EPG virtual world whose end result is the view that the usergets. Rather than hard-programming one world into the application andallowing objects such as programs, etc., to be filled-in, numerousobjects 215 a through n contain various world descriptions.

The interface 204 displays objects with real shapes on a televisionscreen along with rectangular or bar shaped text blocks (rather thandisplaying a matrix of rectangular boxes containing text). For example,one method for displaying real shapes involves using 3-D acceleratortechnology. In one embodiment, the graphics circuitry that provides theinformation displayed on the television screen stores the image elementsin a 3-D model and generates the image using a 3-D accelerator. This isdone in a manner similar to that described in our U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/344,442 filed on Jun. 25, 1999, entitled “METHODAND APPARATUS FOR USING A GENERAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) GRAPHICSPIPELINE FOR COST-EFFECTIVE DIGITAL IMAGE AND VIDEO EDITING,TRANSFORMATION, AND REPRESENTATION” and Ser. No. 09/361,470 filed onJul. 27, 1999, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 3-D MODEL CREATIONBASED ON 2-D IMAGES” and our co-pending application Ser. No. 09/488,361filed on Jan. 16, 2000, entitled “Electronic Programming Guide” (all ofwhich describe 3-D accelerator technology and are incorporated herein byreference). Briefly, this is accomplished by a) storing a computer modelof a geometric surface of one or more pictograms in a first set ofmemory locations within the television STB; b) storing within a secondset of memory locations a two dimensional image to be mapped onto thatsurface (e.g., a pixel array); and c) constructing a pixel arraycomprising image.

According to the present embodiment, a variety of world descriptions inthe objects 215 a through n provide the user with schedule information(or other information as typically presented in EPGs or IPGs) forbroadcast programs using the 3-D accelerator technology mentionedherein. These 3-D enabled objects 215 provide a 3-D virtual world whoseend result is the view that the user gets. For example, one layout maymimic a futuristic science fiction type of environment in space, withrotating carousels showing movie previews (not shown in this view).Another layout may offer, for example, an environment mimicking videogames, such as DOOM™, etc. (not shown in this view). Still anotherenvironment may offer the look of a classic 2-D EPG approach (not shownin this view).

In these various environments, channels (not shown in this view) may beorganized by different classes, so the EPG world may contain, inaddition to its layout and world descriptions, a through n elements withobjects 215. In turn, each of those objects would then be linked orassigned to one of the items to display, such as schedule items, etc. Inaddition, there may be a dynamic relationship between the selection bythe user of a specific content and the selection of a specific world(e.g., the selection of the sports channel by the viewer changes theworld to a ballpark, the selection of the Disney channel changes theworld to a Disney world, etc.).

Another class of objects 215 contain a pseudo-descriptive language. Suchan object may convert a title or channel identification into an actualchannel or program association.

There may also be non-EPG objects 215, such as interaction objects.These may be used for e-commerce activities, etc., and may be mixed inwith the presentation of the world along with the programming scheduleitems. For example, the selection of the sports channel by the user maybring forth a virtual world with the image of a large baseball and batand a logo indicating that a baseball game is being shown on aparticular channel. By clicking on the logo, a user may obtain a list ofproducts that may be purchased using an interactive television system ina manner well known in the art.

In one embodiment, the user can customize which EPG world he wants basedon user preferences. For instance, EPG worlds can be catered to agecategories of viewers, with particular worlds selected for the interestsof senior citizens, teenagers, children, etc. In another embodiment, theprogrammer may decide which world the user views. For example, CNN maymake a deal with the programmer saying that all CNN channels are toappear in the News World and not the viewer's chosen environment. Or,the programmer may offer 2-3 different world choices, and the viewer maychoose among them. Of course, numerous other programming options areavailable in the system as well.

Referring now to FIG. 2 b there is shown the overview of the softwarearchitecture of the programming system for the EPG of FIG. 2 a includingan interactive network communication block. FIG. 2 b is essentially thesame system as is shown in FIG. 2 a, with the addition of the block 225which includes a network link 230. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG.2 b, the network link 230 connects the block 225 to a server (not shownin this view) through the Internet 235. Alternatively, the network link230 may connect the block 225 to the server through a corporateintranet, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), or anyother system of interconnections enabling two or more computer systemsto exchange information. Further, network may also include a wirelessnetwork. The server may comprise one or more servers, either physicaland/or software, networked, at one or more locations.

Block 225 has the ability to upload in real time new objects withlocalized content transmitted from the server and to dump those via asoftware driver acting as a connector 205 into the database 220. Oneexample of such an upload would be localized advertisements for a localfranchise of a pizza parlor during a football game. The nationalfranchiser would contact the broadcaster to include localized contentand permit users to enter an order on-screen through the user interface201. The pizza could then be delivered by the local franchise to theusers' locations, known to the service provider. If desired, billing maybe handled through the block 225 as well.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a there is shown a pseudo-descriptive languagecontaining one class of objects for an EPG 300 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Such an object as shown in FIG. 3 ahas a title 310 and/or a channel identification 320 that may beconverted into the actual channel number or program association. Forexample, Channel 7 may be converted to ABC, etc. It may have localizedaspects such as local start time 335, run length or end time 340, adoverlay 345, permissive choice of advertisements 350, etc. Otherimportant parameters 360 may also be included in the class of objects asdemonstrated in FIG. 3 a.

Referring now to FIG. 3 b there is shown a description of a 3-D world inanother class of objects for an EPG 380 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Objects 382, 384, 386, etc., may be used to build the world and then theentire world description 390 is an object itself.

Referring now to FIG. 3 c there is shown a description of a non-EPGobject 392 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theobjects 393 and 394, etc., in FIG. 3 c may be interaction objects andcan be used for e-commerce activities. The objects 393 and 394, etc.,may be mixed in the presentation of the world along with the scheduleitem objects (not shown in this view).

The system and method disclosed herein may be integrated into advancedInternet-or network-based knowledge systems as related to informationretrieval, information extraction, and question and answer systems. FIG.4 is an example of one embodiment of a computer system 400. The systemshown has a processor 401 coupled to a bus 402. Also shown coupled tothe bus 402 are a memory 403 which may contain objects (See FIG. 2objects 215 a through n). Additional components shown coupled to the bus402 are a storage device 405 (such as a hard drive, floppy drive,CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.), an input device 406 (such as a keyboard, mouse,light pen, barcode reader, scanner, microphone, joystick, etc.), and anoutput device 407 (such as a printer, monitor, speakers, etc.). Ofcourse, an exemplary computer system could have more components thanthese or a subset of the components listed.

The system and method described herein may be stored in the memory of acomputer system (i.e., a set-top box) as a set of instructions to beexecuted, as shown by way of example in FIG. 4. In addition, theinstructions to perform the system and method described herein mayalternatively be stored on other forms of machine-readable media,including magnetic and optical disks. For example, the system and methodof the present invention may be stored on machine-readable media, suchas magnetic disks or optical disks, which are accessible via a diskdrive (or computer-readable medium drive). Further, the instructions maybe downloaded into a computing device over a data network in the form ofa compiled and linked version.

Alternatively, the logic to perform the system and method describedherein may be implemented in additional computer and/or machine-readablemedia such as discrete hardware components as large-scale integratedcircuits (LSI's), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC's),firmware such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM's), and electrical, optical, acoustical, and other forms ofpropogated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digitalsignals, etc.).

Thus, a universal programming system for an EPG system and method withlocalized interactive content has been described. Although the foregoingdescription and accompanying figures discuss and illustrate specificembodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention is tobe measured only in terms of the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: memory storing a pluralityof 3-D enabled objects, at least one object of the plurality of 3-Denabled objects is configured to define an interactive component fordisplay in an interactive electronic programming guide (EPG), and atleast one object of the plurality of 3-D enabled objects includingcontent information for display in the interactive EPG; and a processoroperatively coupled to the memory and configured to: receive userselection of content information; analyze the content information todetermine a thematic content of a 3-D enabled object associated with thecontent information; identify additional 3-D enabled objects associatedwith the thematic content of the 3-D enabled object; and generate anddisplay the interactive EPG by combining the 3-D enabled objectassociated with the selected content information and the identifiedadditional 3-D enabled objects, wherein a layout of the interactive EPGis defined by the thematic content of the 3-D enabled object.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein a set-top box, a television, or a VCRcomprises the memory and the processor.
 3. The system of claim 1 whereinthe system includes a plurality of drivers, one of the driverscommunicating with a separate unit to replenish programming information.4. The system of claim 1 wherein the content information includes atleast one of a schedule time, channel identification and a title.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1 further including at least one 3-D enabled objectconfigured to provide non-EPG e-commerce interactivity.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the at least one 3-D enabled object configured toprovide non-EPG e-commerce interactivity is received in real-time. 7.The system of claim 1 wherein the 3-D enabled object associated with theselected content information and the identified additional 3-D enabledobjects define a virtual world.
 8. The system of claim 1 furtherincluding a user interface configured to receive user interaction withlocalized content of the interactive EPG.
 9. A method, comprising:storing, in a memory, a plurality of 3-D enabled objects, at least oneobject of the plurality of 3-D enabled objects is configured to definean interactive component for display in an interactive electronicprogramming guide (EPG), and at least one object of the 3-D enabledobjects including content information for display in the interactiveEPG; receiving user selection of content information; analyzing thecontent information to determine a thematic content of a 3-D enabledobject associated with the content information; identifying additional3-D enabled objects associated with the thematic content of the 3-Denabled object associated with the selected content information; andgenerating and displaying the interactive EPG by combining the 3-Denabled object associated with the selected content information and theidentified additional 3-D enabled objects, wherein a layout of theinteractive EPG is defined by the thematic content of the 3-D enabledobject.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the content informationincludes at least one of a schedule time, channel identification and atitle.
 11. The method of claim 9 further including at least one 3-Denabled object configured to provide non-EPG e-commerce interactivity.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one 3-D enabled objectconfigured to provide non-EPG e-commerce interactivity is received inreal-time.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the 3-D enabled objectassociated with the selected content information and the identifiedadditional 3-D enabled objects define a virtual world.
 14. The method ofclaim 9 further including providing a user interface configured toreceive user interaction with localized content of the interactive EPG.15. A non-transitory machine-readable media storing machine-executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a methodcomprising: storing, in a memory, a plurality of 3-D enabled objects, atleast one object of the plurality of 3-D enabled objects is configuredto define an interactive component for display in an interactiveelectronic programming guide (EPG), and at least one object includingcontent information for display in the interactive EPG; receiving userselection of content information; analyzing the content information todetermine a thematic content of a 3-D enabled object associated with thecontent information; identifying additional 3-D enabled objectsassociated with the thematic content of the 3-D enabled objectassociated with the selected content information; and generating anddisplaying the interactive EPG by combining the 3-D enabled objectassociated with the selected content information and the identifiedadditional 3-D enabled objects, wherein a layout of the interactive EPGis defined by the thematic content of the 3-D enabled object.
 16. Thenon-transitory machine-readable media of claim 15 wherein the contentinformation includes at least one of a schedule time, channelidentification and a title.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readablemedia of claim 15 further including at least one 3-D enabled objectconfigured to provide non-EPG e-commerce interactivity.
 18. Thenon-transitory machine-readable media of claim 17, wherein the at leastone 3-D enabled object configured to provide non-EPG e-commerceinteractivity is received in real-time.
 19. The non-transitorymachine-readable media of claim 15 wherein the 3-D enabled objectassociated with the selected content information and the identifiedadditional 3-D enabled objects define a virtual world.
 20. Thenon-transitory machine-readable media of claim 15 further storingmachine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor,perform: providing a user interface configured to receive userinteraction with localized content of the interactive EPG.